No Evidence of Community-Acquired Cases of SARS In New York State

ALBANY, NY, April 25, 2003 – There are a total of 38 possible cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in New York State, according to the latest report issued today by the New York State Department of Health. In New York State, twenty of the cases are in counties outside of New York City and the remaining 18 are in New York City. This includes a probable case reported today from Nassau County that involves a travel history to Toronto, Canada. There have been no serious life-threatening illnesses among these 38 possible cases and there have been no secondary cases of SARS spread to household members or among health care workers.

There is no evidence of community-acquired cases of SARS in New York State. All 38 patients traveled to specific regions of Southeast Asia and or Toronto, Canada where community transmission has been documented. For the 20 cases reported outside of New York City, only two patients are hospitalized, while all others have recovered or are recovering.

The 20 cases outside of New York City were identified in the following counties: Broome (1), Chemung (1), Hamilton (1), Jefferson (2), Niagara (1), Nassau (2), Onondaga (4), Ontario (1), Putnam (1), Rensselaer (2), Schenectady (1), Ulster (1), Westchester (1) and a non-New York resident in Saratoga County (1). Fifteen of these individuals had a recent travel history to Asia and five had recently traveled to Toronto, Canada.

State Health Commissioner Antonia C. Novello, M.D., M.P.H., Dr. P.H., signed an emergency order on April 10, officially designating SARS as a communicable disease requiring mandatory reporting of all suspect SARS cases in New York State. Mandatory reporting has strengthened the state's surveillance for this disease, while providing important confidentiality protections to patients.

The State Health Department continues to remain in close communication with physicians, hospitals, local health departments and local emergency medical services (EMS) to ensure prompt recognition of suspect cases, immediate implementation of infection control measures, immediate reporting of any suspect cases to the local health departments, and appropriate diagnostic testing in suspect cases.

The exact cause of SARS is still under investigation. Scientists suspect that its cause may be linked to a newly identified Coronavirus. These viruses are a common cause of mild to moderate upper-respiratory illness in humans.

Individuals who have a recent history of travel to the affected areas in Asia and Toronto, Canada or contact with persons who have traveled to those affected areas and who have developed a fever greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit and respiratory illness - such as a cough, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing - should immediately contact their primary care physician. People usually become sick within two to 10 days of coming in contact with SARS.